University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal) Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln 10-2014 THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES SERVICES IN NORTHWEST NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS Esther Gani Kaduna State University Library, Kaduna, [email protected] Joshua Sani Magoi Kaduna State University Library, Kaduna, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Gani, Esther and Magoi, Joshua Sani, "THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES SERVICES IN NORTHWEST NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS" (2014). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1184. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1184 THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES SERVICES IN NORTHWEST NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS By Magoi, Joshua Sani ([email protected]) Kaduna State University Library And Gani, Esther ([email protected]) Kaduna State University Library 1 | P a g e ABSTRACT This paper highlights the development of University education vis-à-vis the emergence and development of digital libraries in Nigeria Universities with specific reference to Northwest Nigeria. The concepts of digital library and as well its objectives in a university system, and services provided such as network services, digital preservation and quick reference were discussed. In addition prospects and benefits of digital library services like digitization of local content, access wide range of services and scholarly publishing among others were identified. The paper highlighted funding, infrastructure and technology as challenges facing the application of digital libraries in northwest Universities and concludes that, though they are faced with numerous challenges, however, the university libraries could gradually overcome such challenges in the course of time especially through library collaboration. Finally the paper recommends that the virtual library project of the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) should be well funded and managed to support the digital Libraries in various Universities. Also, there is need for CULNU to ensure a unify method of linking Nigeria University Libraries together through a particular network, among others. 2 | P a g e 3 | P a g e INTRODUCTION Digital libraries as occasioned by the information and communication technology (ICT) revolution has given Nigeria a chance to stamp and showcase her authority in knowledge and subsequently contribute as never before in the national development through university education. Hence, university education in Nigeria began with the establishment of the University College Ibadan in 1948 during British Colonia masters. Immediately after the Nigerian Independence celebration in 1960, four additional universities were established. Thus: University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. These were referred to as the first generation universities in Nigeria with the aimed to lead in man-power development and advancement in educational development of the country. However, in the 1970s, seven more additional universities were founded, and they were referred to, as the second generation universities, which among them were: Usmanu Danfio University Sokoto and Bayero University, Kano. these were found in the North West Zone. These universities greatly help bringing university education closer to the citizens of the country, Ogunsola (2005).The third generation universities came on board in the 1980s with the establishment of Federal University of Technologies and Agricultures. None was established in the northwest zone. For the purpose of the high quest for education and also the need to increase man power development in Nigeria state own universities began to spring up by individual states in Nigeria. In line with this, all states in the Northwest zone of Nigeria (seven states) established their own state universities which marked the fourth generation Universities. In 1990s the law for the establishment of private universities was legalized and led to the establishment of private universities across the nation which the zone was not an exception. Today, there are over one hundred accreditated public and private universities in Nigeria. On record, sixteen of them are from the Northwest zone of the country. All aim at working towards the educational advancement and human resources development of the nation, (NUC, 2014). Generally, the university library objective is to support academic activities in their university community. To achieve this, relevant resources of all kind need to be put in place to satisfy the learning, teaching and research needs of users. According to Ani and Edem (2012), the resources 4 | P a g e utilized in the university libraries were mostly in printed format made up of books, journals, magazines, dissertations/theses and other local materials. However, in the recent development, libraries experience new technological transformation identified as the electronic information era been powered by Information and Communication Technologies (I.C.T.) with its capabilities in promoting and improving information services in all facer of live led to the establishment of digital libraries in Nigerian universities. In line with this development, all universities in the Northwest zone also adopted the trend of setting up the digital libraries. From the foregoing, this paper seeks to explore the emergence of the digital libraries in Nigerian Universities in Northwest Zone and also identify challenges and prospect of digital libraries using documentary and secondary data. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE There is no single definition for digital libraries. The definition evolves as research progresses. Within the context of libraries, digital libraries may be viewed as technical services performed electronically with an entirely electronic application. The e-libraries are “a set of electronic resources and associated technical capabilities” and that are designed to serve specific users community, (Buckland’s electronic library, 2012). Trivedi (2010) defined digital library as “a library in which collections resources are stored in digital formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media) and accessible by computers.” Aman and Norliyanan (2002) stated that an electronic library also refer to as digital library or digital repository focused on collection of digital objects that can include text, visual material, audio material, video material, stored as electronic media formats (as opposed to print, micro form, or other media), along with means for organizing, storing, and retrieving the files and media contained in the library collection,” They also viewed it as “a potentially virtual organization, that comprehensively collects, manages and preserves for the long dept of time rich digital content, and offers to its targeted user communities specialized functionality on that comprehensive codified policies.” Universally, Digital libraries are perceived as libraries in which all information resources are available in computer process through which acquisition, storage, preservation, retrieval and dissemination of resources are carried out using digital technologies. Mutula and Ojedokun (2008) noted that it is a library that contains no conventional print information resources, but electronic 5 | P a g e books, journals and newspapers. They further observed that the digital library may not occupy a physical space, where as users need to go and gain access to its electronic resources. In another development, Li and Furht (2014) stated that digital libraries are systems that combine the machinery of digital computing storage and communication, in which the content, and software needed to reproduce, emulate and extend that services of collecting, cataloguing, finding and disseminating information offered by traditional libraries based on paper and other materials. “They also viewed digital libraries as systems providing a community of users with coherent access to a large, organized repository of information and knowledge.” The ability of the user to access, reorganize, and utilize this repository is enriched by the capability of digital technologies. The digital library is synonymous to the virtual library which is a library where services or collections of electronic resources are entirely virtual and access via a network. A virtual library does not have a physical space where users can visit to access information resources, instead distribution of resources are done electronically virtually. It is also called a paperless library. Digital libraries and virtual library are characterized by the following features as noted by (Costabile and Semeraro, (1998) access to information over a network, facilitate immediate and simultaneous access to information, they are interactive, i.e. support 2 ways communication with the users, they exist in multimedia format of text, video, graphics, sound and animation. Above all, it increases speed and effectiveness in finding information and to decrease mental effort put into each search of information in the net. The e-library (EL) most often referred to as digital library; virtual library and online library are not one and the same. According to Irokwe (2001), a digital library is a library that harnesses digital technologies as infrastructure to search, collect, organize,